12 BACK TO SCHOOL:Layout 1 20/8/08 18:24 Page 2
FEATUREBACKTOSCHOOL
School Dinners?
With so much in the news about our children’s diets,
what’s the right way to start off a new school year?
e all know that a school satchel and crisps at breaktime, so a healthy which is easily absorbed. Contains vitamins
should contain no more of a snack will not be out of step with their A, B complex, C, D and E, as well as calcium
Wsnack than a fresh apple, but it friends. Try nuts, seed mixes, crunchy and herbal extracts to aid digestion. Free
isn’t always that easy to get our kids to vegetables and different types of fresh from additives, preservatives, artificial
eat healthily. Let’s take a look at what’s fruit. Avoid giving fizzy or sugary drinks colours, nuts and lactose and is suitable
good and what’s not when it comes to or caffeine, instead, encourage your child from 6 months. Available from Salus.
getting the best in children’s diets. to drink water. Taking in plenty of water
during the school day will maximise brain Animal Parade Vita-Gels - containing a
Mind and Body functioning and boost alertness. Most range of nutrients, including DHA and
It is certainly true that mind and body schools will allow children to have water EPA essential fatty acids and 20 essential
cannot be separated – what children eat with them in class - and it is worth vitamins and minerals. Chewy and fruity
will impact not just on the body, but on the suggesting it to those schools that don’t. in animal shapes. Available from
mind too. Eating the right foods will not Nature’s Plus.
only help with general health, fitness and A little extra
weight management, but will also increase Children and young adults need essential BIOmega-3 Kids - a fish oil preparation
energy, alertness and the ability to learn. fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, for children. Each capsule contains
Children eat more processed ‘white’ foods especially zinc and B vitamins, in their 1000mg of fish oil, manufactured under
than ever before, meals such as pasta and daily diet. These are found in oily fish, pharmaceutical control and screened for
white flour based products like pizza. In seeds, nuts and a variety of fresh fruit and toxins. Comes in lemon flavour from
addition, consumption of sugar is alarmingly vegetables comprising all colours of the Pharma Nord.
high, often from sources we are not even rainbow. Sadly, the average child’s diet
aware contain sugar, such as tomato does not contain all of these essentials. Vitabiotics WellKid - a multivitamin,
ketchup. The processing involved in the However, there are plenty of natural containing vitamins A, C, D and E and
production of white foods can rob them of supplements formulated specifically for minerals such as selenium, plus B-complex
nutrients. In addition, heavily processed kids to help achieve optimal nutritional and omega-3 for healthy growth, immune
foods leave children feeling dull, energy-less intake. Some of the best around include: system defence and energy release in
and with erratic blood-sugar levels. children. Iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid
Kindervital for children - a high quality are also included for haemoglobin and
Start them right liquid multivitamin and mineral preparation healthy blood formation.
The fact is that children develop a taste
for high-sugar, high-fat, processed foods
because we provide them! Food is often Get down with the kids!
given as a treat or a reward, such as We hear much about the sedentary lifestyles of today’s children, with electronic
birthday cake or a trip to the fast-food games, computers, increased car use and parental anxiety about safety being blamed.
restaurant. The trick is to start well, with Remember, activity outdoors is an important part of childhood and an active, healthy
breakfast being the most important meal lifestyle. Look for clubs, sports and activities in your area that cater for children; talk
of the day. to your child about things they would like to try. As well
Particularly on school days, make sure as learning something new, children socialise and interact
that breakfast is a proper meal rather than with others better when participating in activity.
a rushed, hurried affair – you can even do Why not try getting involved yourself? Doing
all the preparation the night before. Muesli activities with your children can be fun and
or porridge, or a poached or scrambled egg rewarding in more ways than you think. You can
on rye bread will provide slow-release set a good example, spend quality time together
energy and help concentration levels. A as a family and get fit into the bargain!
good, solid breakfast will also stop the mid-
morning craving for something sugary.
Provide a snack for your child to take to
school. Most schools discourage sweets
12 GOHEALTHYSEP/OCT2008
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